All-retirement all star team
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Sentinel
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I can't come up with an entire roster, but some names that come to mind are: Firsov, Kent Nilsson, Makarov, Tretyak, and Jiri Fischer.
BenchBrawl
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Does massive injuries/accident count? Konstantinov?
Jean Béliveau deserves a spot way ahead of Sundin.In 1970-1971, Beliveau scored 76 pts in 70 games, then 22 pts in 20 playoff games on his way to his final Stanley Cup and retirement.
Not saying he's the best choice at center, but he's the most obvious one at first glance.
Cam Neely scored 46 pts in 49 games, with 26 goals, in his last NHL season.Probably not the best but someone to consider.
Eddie Gerard is a great choice at defense.He retired as one of the best player in the world.I'd probably take Gerard from 1923 before I take Bourque from 2001, but I guess that's debatable.
Jean Béliveau deserves a spot way ahead of Sundin.In 1970-1971, Beliveau scored 76 pts in 70 games, then 22 pts in 20 playoff games on his way to his final Stanley Cup and retirement.
Not saying he's the best choice at center, but he's the most obvious one at first glance.
Cam Neely scored 46 pts in 49 games, with 26 goals, in his last NHL season.Probably not the best but someone to consider.
Eddie Gerard is a great choice at defense.He retired as one of the best player in the world.I'd probably take Gerard from 1923 before I take Bourque from 2001, but I guess that's debatable.
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Hockey Outsider
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BenchBrawl
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Chris Pronger is another on defense, though he wouldn't beat Gerard, Bourque or Konstantinov.Niedermayer also had a pretty good last year.
Nicklas Lidstrom finished 5th in Norris.
Brad Park had a decent last year.
Joe Hall was playing great in Montreal before he died from the influenza epidemic.
Al MacInnis only played 2 games in his final season, so if we discount that year and take the one prior, he finished 2nd in Norris and 6th in Hart at age 39, scoring 68 points in 2002-2003! He would be a strong candidate.
Denis Potvin finished 10th in Norris.
Red Kelly finished 9th in Hart in his last season at forward.
We'd have to check everyone basically lol
Nicklas Lidstrom finished 5th in Norris.
Brad Park had a decent last year.
Joe Hall was playing great in Montreal before he died from the influenza epidemic.
Al MacInnis only played 2 games in his final season, so if we discount that year and take the one prior, he finished 2nd in Norris and 6th in Hart at age 39, scoring 68 points in 2002-2003! He would be a strong candidate.
Denis Potvin finished 10th in Norris.
Red Kelly finished 9th in Hart in his last season at forward.
We'd have to check everyone basically lol
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BenchBrawl
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Jacques Lemaire had a very strong finish to his career, scoring 55 pts in 50 games, but leading the playoffs in goals and points with 11 goals and 23 points, closing the late-70s Montreal dynasty.
BenchBrawl
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It is not clear that Dryden is the best at goalie, Charlie Gardiner had a great last season, winning the cup too in an heroic performance before dying prematurely.Was 1st AST and won the Vezina, and generally considered the best goalie in the world.
Can any of the resident goaltending specialists figure out who was the best? Seems awfully close.
Can any of the resident goaltending specialists figure out who was the best? Seems awfully close.
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BenchBrawl
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Plural
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Ahh, all right.
I think Bure would still be useful in a limited offensive role. He still scored 55 goals and 99 points in his last 107 games. He also was able to play massive minutes in his second last season (25 min/game).
BenchBrawl
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Right now my choices for defense are: Gerard, Bourque and Konstantinov.All three had a strong year, were among the very top defensemen in the world, and were important contributors to a Stanley Cup win.
For goalies: Dryden or Gardiner.Both were considered the best goalie in the world give or take, and both won the Stanley Cup.Gardiner was also captain and the only goalie to win a cup as such.He died shortly after at age 29.
For centers: Beliveau or Lemaire.Both had a good season followed by an excellent playoff performance leading to a cup.Lemaire was younger than Beliveau however.
No clue for wingers yet, and the previous lists are not exhaustive, I might be missing some crucial names.
For goalies: Dryden or Gardiner.Both were considered the best goalie in the world give or take, and both won the Stanley Cup.Gardiner was also captain and the only goalie to win a cup as such.He died shortly after at age 29.
For centers: Beliveau or Lemaire.Both had a good season followed by an excellent playoff performance leading to a cup.Lemaire was younger than Beliveau however.
No clue for wingers yet, and the previous lists are not exhaustive, I might be missing some crucial names.
BenchBrawl
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Syl Apps Sr. is another choice at center.Datsyuk not so bad.
Gordie Drillon and Zigmund Palffy had a decent last year at winger.Wingers seem much weaker than other position at this game for some reason.
Gordie Drillon and Zigmund Palffy had a decent last year at winger.Wingers seem much weaker than other position at this game for some reason.
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JackSlater
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I think that Durnan is also a viable contender for goaltender on the team. Seems that the back end is the strength here, with Vezina quality goaltending and Bourque as probably the best skater available. Denis Potvin is worthy of consideration for a defenceman spot.
I know that the thread doesn't specify this, but for me there is a difference between players who retired due to injury and players who just retired. Bourque, Lidstrom, Lemaire, Dryden could have come back for another season. Pronger, Konstantinov and so on couldn't. I prefer to keep them separated.
I know that the thread doesn't specify this, but for me there is a difference between players who retired due to injury and players who just retired. Bourque, Lidstrom, Lemaire, Dryden could have come back for another season. Pronger, Konstantinov and so on couldn't. I prefer to keep them separated.
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The Panther
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Should probably put an age limit on this, or it's inevitably going to be guys who played their last game in their prime and then were injured or whatnot...
VanIslander
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HHOF pivot Frank McGee, the 4-time Stanley Cup champion hero who retired after four dominant years to take a government job, being a proud amateur from a rich family who sought politics.
lw - McGee - rw
lw - McGee - rw
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VanIslander
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Many Soviets apply given the national team's policy of mandatory retirement after 10 years.
Left winger Anatoli Firsov was the Soviet MVP in 1971 when as a thirty year old he led the World championship in scoring. The next year he sat out the Summit Series when he was angry at Tarasov's absence. He then began coaching and retired as a player at age 33.
Firsov - McGee - RW
Left winger Anatoli Firsov was the Soviet MVP in 1971 when as a thirty year old he led the World championship in scoring. The next year he sat out the Summit Series when he was angry at Tarasov's absence. He then began coaching and retired as a player at age 33.
Firsov - McGee - RW
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vadim sharifijanov
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seems like it doesn't make sense to count guys who retired due to injury. pronger didn't retire the day he played his last game, he retired when he couldn't play anymore because of his concussion troubles.
you'd be getting dark room pronger, wheelchair vlady, snow blower sakic, al macinnis with one eye, etc.
the point of this thread, afaict, is to put together a team of guys who could still play when they hung up the skates.
lemaire - beliveau - RW
gerrard - bourque
dryden
and what do all of their last games have in common?
pie mackenzie (RIP) and hakan loob don't count because they played on, just in other leagues. but actually mark recchi might be one of the best RWs.
the answer is probably gordie drillon though. it was a war depleted year (hell, the league considered shutting down at the beginning of that season), but he finished 3rd in goals. had he retired one year earlier...
you'd be getting dark room pronger, wheelchair vlady, snow blower sakic, al macinnis with one eye, etc.
the point of this thread, afaict, is to put together a team of guys who could still play when they hung up the skates.
lemaire - beliveau - RW
gerrard - bourque
dryden
and what do all of their last games have in common?
pie mackenzie (RIP) and hakan loob don't count because they played on, just in other leagues. but actually mark recchi might be one of the best RWs.
the answer is probably gordie drillon though. it was a war depleted year (hell, the league considered shutting down at the beginning of that season), but he finished 3rd in goals. had he retired one year earlier...
Theokritos
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As mentioned by Sentinel, Tretyak is another one. He retired when he was 32, was 2nd in "Soviet Player of the Year" voting in his last season and still seemed to be in his prime. If he was allowed to go to the NHL, he would have continued to play.
MXD
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Actually... It's probably clear that Gardiner had the best season here (and the best RS+Playoff combo of the 30ies). Gardiner played more RS games (despite the season being way, way shorter) than Dryden and was generally much more crucial to its team success.
BigBadBruins7708
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I'd add Marc Savard as a HM at center.
25-63-88 in 82 games his final full season
my team would be:
Bossy - Lemieux - Bure
Bourque - Konstantinov
Dryden
25-63-88 in 82 games his final full season
my team would be:
Bossy - Lemieux - Bure
Bourque - Konstantinov
Dryden
BenchBrawl
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Why Lemieux? His last season was mediocre, he was done health-wise with his heart condition.
BenchBrawl
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Anyway, unless I forgot someone really obvious, the real question is at wing.
My line-up:
?-Béliveau-Bossy(?)
Gerard-Bourque
Gardiner
Bossy is the best RW mentioned as of now.
My line-up:
?-Béliveau-Bossy(?)
Gerard-Bourque
Gardiner
Bossy is the best RW mentioned as of now.
BigBadBruins7708
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for injury guys I put more weight on their last full season, in Lemieux's case it was 28-63-91 in 67 games
even then his actual final season wasn't awful, 7-15-22 in 26
BenchBrawl
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895
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I guess I should clarify what I meant as thread starter.
I didn't intend it to mean for players that had career ending injuries or died. So I guess retirement + 1 day. Basically, how would all these players have fared if they were forced to play for another year after their last season? I guess that rules out Konstantinov, Gardiner or someone like Ace Bailey (if he was on anyone's radar).
Also, I noticed someone mentioned Palffy. He played 5 extra seasons in the Slovak league. Stats look good but not sure how well that translates to NHL play.
You are of course free to disregard that completely and use whatever criteria you want.
I didn't intend it to mean for players that had career ending injuries or died. So I guess retirement + 1 day. Basically, how would all these players have fared if they were forced to play for another year after their last season? I guess that rules out Konstantinov, Gardiner or someone like Ace Bailey (if he was on anyone's radar).
Also, I noticed someone mentioned Palffy. He played 5 extra seasons in the Slovak league. Stats look good but not sure how well that translates to NHL play.
You are of course free to disregard that completely and use whatever criteria you want.
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